Kaieteur News

K

AIETEUR 'Glaring

Monday Edition

conflict of interest'

NEWS

May 02, 2022 - Vol. 15 No. 17

Online: www.kaieteurnews.com Online Price $80 readership p. 3 yesterday, 75,418 ...Exxon's preferred environmental assessor, ERM stacked

Guyana’s largest selling daily & New York’s most popular weekly

with members who worked with the oil company before

VP Jagdeo says...

Pres. Ali and Vickram

Bharrat should honour promise to release Alison Redford reports on oil projects Canadian lawyer and former politician, Alison Redford

p. 2

p. 13

Media workers slam lack of transparency in oil and gas sector …cite dearth in public information, education campaigns

'Pay workers better'

Isseneru villagers call for halt in mining activities

...FITUG says Govt. measures not reaching ordinary citizens

...seek full compensation for human rights violation following IACHR ruling

p. 11

p.

15

Squash player killed in accident as drunk driver jumps traffic light p. 13

Dead, Ian Mekdeci

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Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Pres. Ali and Vickram

VP Bharrat Jagdeo says... should honour promise to release

Alison Redford reports on oil projects

I

f President Irfaan Ali and Natural Resources Minister, Vickram Bharrat made commitments to release the reports of Canadian lawyer, Alison Redford on ExxonMobil's projects then they should do so. This statement was made by Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo during an engagement with members of the media last Friday.

Kaieteur News asked the former President to explain why the reports by the Canadian lawyer have not been made public despite the government's promise to do so. This newspaper had previously reported that Redford authored two reports. The first review report was done in August 2020 on the Field Development Plan (FDP) for the Payara project. During the David Granger administration, the contract to review the Payara FDP was

awarded to Bayphase Consultancy headquartered in the UK but electoral disruptions and the COVID19 pandemic stymied the completion process. Redford was subsequently hired by the PPP administration to review what was done by Bayphase and complete the review of the Payara FDP. Bayphase was also awarded the contract to review the Ye l l o w t a i l F D P w o r t h US$10B. On the same day it awarded the licence to ExxonMobil for the project, Government disclosed that Redford was also part of the review process. Importantly, the review of Payara and Yellowtail were completed in 42 and 52 days respectively.

The government came in for harsh criticism from several industry experts who noted that no proper review can be done in such a short space of time while adding, that Redford has no known track record in this highly

technical field.

While Jagdeo did acknowledge the need for the government officials to honour their statement commitments, he also noted that the reports following a review process is not where the public's focus should be. He said it is the production licences that represent the final word of the government.

Expounding further, the Vice President said, “There are lots of issues in the review report that are subsequently clarified so if they write up a report, often it is based on what the submission is (in the Field Development Plan) and when they make the engagement (with the company) that is when you end up with the final stuff so the report of a review does not mean everything is correct.”

Jagdeo further explained that a review report may point to several issues but when clarification is offered

to fear of them being used selectively and disparagingly. Irrespective of this fear, industry experts are still demanding that the reports be made public so that citizens can understand the quality and value of the work conducted by Redford.

Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo b y t h e c o m p a n y, t h e consultant realizes that “it is not really a big issue.” He said the review report does not reflect the entire picture of what the government arrived at. He also alluded that perhaps the government's hesitation to release the documents is due

Kaieteur News previously reported that a Field Development Plan is one of the most critical documents governments assess before granting companies permission to move ahead with oil projects.

Given the importance of this document, numerous industry experts have said the government must ensure proper due diligence is done by way of experienced professionals. It is on this very principle that they have expressed grave concern about Guyana's use of Alison Merrilla Redford, a Canadian lawyer and former politician.

More than a dozen

industry experts who have experience reviewing FDPs said emphatically, no proper review can be done in 42 or 52 days. Specifically, one industry expert said, “For most FPDs, you have over 100 items to check. That is why a proper review takes a year and change, sometimes longer depending on project size. In the first instance, the government must have its own FDP guidelines on minimum requirements they expect from the company.

That should be public. This is needed because citizens would better understand the standards the administration is setting for companies to abide by. The North Sea Transition Authority (NTSA) does this. That authority regulates and influences the oil, gas and carbon storage industries of the UK Continental Shelf.”

The NSTA clearly states via its guidelines on its (Continued on page 10)

May 2022.

Kaieteur News

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 03

'Glaring conflict of interest'

...Exxon's preferred environmental assessor, ERM stacked with members who worked with the oil company before

By Davina Bagot

E

nvironmental R e s o u r c e s Management (ERM), a London based Consultancy firm that has been conducting all of the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) required by ExxonMobil for their Guyana based operations to date, have hired experts to conduct those studies who have worked with the oil company for years.

This much can be found in the most recent EIA completed by ERM for Exxon's Gas-to-Energy project to be constructed at Wales, West Bank Demerara.

One of the experts at ERM, the Guyana Program Lead, Partner-inCharge, Mr. Todd Hall has over 25 years of broad experience in environmental consulting, focusing on environmental, social and health impact assessment, management plan development, multimedia permitting, site planning and licencing, remediation, and risk assessment.

His biography included in the EIA states that “Todd has worked with ExxonMobil for his entire career, from his first project involving a remedial investigation of a legacy ExxonMobil property, and he has led ERM's programs for ExxonMobil at multiple downstream facilities, legacy sites, LNG (Liquified natural gas)

regasification facilities, and upstream exploration and development projects worldwide.”

Hall has prepared environmental, social, and health impact assessments and management plans for dozens of exploration and development projects in North and South America, Asia/Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East, according to the document. In Guyana, he has been part of ERM's support to Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited (EEPGL) since 2017 and has functioned in the capacity as Program Lead for ERM's support to EEPGL since early 2018.

ERM said he directed the EIAs, inclusive of socioeconomic and community health resources, and associated data collection and stakeholder engagement process for ExxonMobil's second and third projects, the Liza Phase 2 development and the Payara development Project, both offshore Guyana. Data collection included completion of onshore and marine traffic studies, onshore and offshore ambient air quality monitoring, and surveys of marine fish, marine benthos, coastal birds, seabirds, marine turtles, and ecosystem services in the projects' Area of Influence.

The GTE impact study also says that Hall directed Environmental Management Plans

ERMs Guyana Program Lead and Partner-in-Charge, Mr. Todd Hall for a number of multi-well exploration campaigns in Guyana's waters, in addition to serving as a senior technical reviewer for the Liza Phase One EIA. David Blaha, another Partnerin-Charge at ERM has also worked for ExxonMobil in the past.

According to his bio, Blaha has extensive experience in multimedia permitting of large and often “controversial” infrastructure projects. The document notes, “He served as ERM's Partner-inCharge for ExxonMobil's initial

No evidence City Mayor fired gun during domestic dispute The police have found no evidence that Mayor of Georgetown Ubraj Narine fired his gun during a domestic dispute late last year.

At a recent engagement, Mayor Narine was asked about reports in the media of an ongoing investigation alleging that he discharged his firearm indiscriminately during a domestic dispute.

The Mayor indicated that the matter has been thoroughly investigated and his firearm which was taken for testing was returned. Narine thanked the Guyana Police Force for their investigative work. When asked about his silence during the matter and if he felt targeted, the Mayor said: “I would not comment on the matter beyond being grateful for the investigation.

I have always maintained my innocence

work in Guyana, including successfully permitting and securing the Government of Guyana approval for seismic surveys, EBSs, EMPs, and the Liza Phase 1 EIA. This included close coordination with the Guyana EPA and key stakeholders. His other work for ExxonMobil has ranged from serving as the technical coordinator for EM's Golden Pass LNG Project in Texas to the decommissioning of the Nam Phong Gas Processing Plant in Thailand. Other large complex projects that he has helped lead include the Keystone XL Pipeline EIS for the US State Department and the Northeast Gateway Deepwater Port LNG Terminal EIS for the US Coast Guard.”

For the GTE project, Blaha was the overall lead for regulatory engagements, EIA process execution, and deliverable production and technical review of the EIA. A third expert on the ERM team that developed the EIA, Julia Tims, Project Manager, Biological Resource Specialist has worked with ExxonMobil for the past 20 years. Her bio states that she has been providing technical leadership and project management for the United States and international impact assessment and biodiversityfocused projects within a broad range of sectors including oil and

and was not concerned about the investigation.”

Last December, Narine was arrested and later released on $20,000 station bail, while his firearm was confiscated by police reportedly after a confrontation with his in-

laws at Pigeon Island, East Coast Demerara. The information was confirmed by head of the Guyana Police Force Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Mark Ramotar, when contacted by this publication.

gas, renewable energy, mining, and infrastructure.

“Julia has worked with ExxonMobil on multiple projects over the last 20 years and she has been part of ERM's support to EEPGL in Guyana since 2017, most recently leading the biodiversity component of the Payara EIA,” the document states.

Locally, she has led the components of two EIAs for offshore oil exploration projects in Guyana and conducted baseline assessment focusing on seabirds and coastal birds and assessed the potential impacts of the proposed projects, including unplanned events such as oil spills, on bird (Continued on page 9 )

Soldier arrested in robbery allegation A Guyana Defence Force rank on Friday was arrested for allegedly robbing a sales-girl on her way home last week at Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.

The GDF rank was reportedly with two other unidentified suspects. Police reports identified the victim as a 17-yearold shop-girl of Good Hope Mahaicony East Coast Demerara (ECD). The victim reported to police, that the robbery occurred between 19:50hrs and 20:00hrs.

According to the police the victim and a male friend were on a bicycle as they approached three males fixing their

Mayor Ubraj Narine.

David Blaha, a Partner-in-Charge at ERM

bicycle. This is when one of the men purportedly grabbed her bike and robbed her of several valuables. The sales-girl was relieved of two cell-phones, total valued at $170, 000. The other two suspects reportedly had a scuffle with her male companion but were unable to find anything of value.

The scuffle led to the companion allegedly being assaulted with a toy gun that broke into pieces after a lash to the head. The suspects then made their escape. However, a GDF rank was later taken into custody on suspicion of being one of the three assailants. Investigations are ongoing.

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Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

KAIETEUR NEWS Printed and Published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd. 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown, Guyana.

Publisher: GLENN LALL-TEL: 624-6456 Editor: SHARMAIN GRAINGER Tel: 225-8465, 225-8491. Fax: 225-8473, 226-8210

EDITORIAL

Blackouts

– a leadership industry Whenever there is a sweet spot that is found, it is a usual human tendency to zero in on it, seize it, and suck it for every drop of what it is worth. While this is being drained dry, the minds of the greedy busily calculate how to extend the sweetness. This is what has happened under the PPP/C Government with electricity in Guyana, as its leaders have executed through the Guyana Power and Light Inc. (GPL).

More than one PPP/C Governments have made electricity the crooked cover under which there is pretense of doing something better for Guyanese plagued by blackouts for decades. It is a never-ending haemorrhaging of money by the millions and billions annually.

Guyanese live with a chronic sickness, which has a most familiar name - blackouts. Blackouts are so regular, so common, so ever-present that they are now an inseparable part of almost every Guyanese family. This is so particularly for those citizens who cannot afford the huge cash outlay for a generator, or the greater expense of solar power. So, most Guyanese live with the fear, dread, and agony of blackouts. It is beyond denial that blackouts, the constant and devastating repetitions, are bad for families and communities. But what is bad for the great majority of Guyanese, who have to live with them, is incredibly good for one PPP/C Government after another and its insiders.

Those squeezing enormous benefits from blackouts and off the backs of struggling, suffering, sickened Guyanese are high political leaders and their handpicked cronies who have some relationship to the generation of electricity in this country.

To repeat: the blackouts that are harrowing for poor Guyanese are prospering beyond belief for PPP/C Government leaders and their kith and kin. In numerous national budgets many millions are set aside for the GPL so that a reliable source of electricity through refurbishing key areas of the company, recruiting knowledgeable people, obtaining better systems can be had. The costly projects have been countless and come like clockwork, year after year. This is so that electricity can be transmitted to Guyanese, for them to go about the tasks of regular life involving their homes, their children, their work, their leisure, their worship, their care when they are sick. There is a huge problem: Guyanese are not getting the electricity promised.

The problem is that after all the many millions have been spent, the people who are supposed to benefit from a better supply of energy, and get something dependable from the millions supposedly put to work, they are either in the same place, or worse off than before. It is clear that something is terribly wrong with this national issue of electricity and blackouts; what has long been a full-blown national crisis first gets worse, then even worse. What is becoming clearer still is that the leaders who spend millions are deceiving and cheating citizens who look to them for electricity answers, energy solutions. We at this publication make this clear: Guyanese are being taken for a ride. This is because a quality electricity supply is a leadership lie. The GPL functions as the machinery, one of many, but one of the bigger ones, through which the leaders of this country steal and rob the people blind. This is through old and new (proposed ones, too) multimillion dollar projects that always seem to fall short, new systems put in place that collapse, old technology replaced that don’t hold up.

Guyanese need to get something in their heads: electricity and the GPL (to it, from it, and through it) function as the channel through which crafty leaders in the PPP/C Government carry out their robberies of the national treasury. Improving the blackout situation is something that can be done, as was shown by the Coalition Government during its five years in office. The questions are how it is and why is it that the PPP/C Government can’t get it right, is unable to deliver the same standard, and significantly ease the electricity woes of hundreds of thousands of Guyanese.

There is a description that sheds light on what goes on here with chronic blackouts. It is the Great Electricity Robbery of Guyana by the PPP/C.

Because we lack sincerity, we live with perversity DEAR EDITOR, Media reports note that labour unions were calling for a unified worker front on worker’s day, as part of a week of observations. On any occasion that I come across words like ‘unified’ or ‘together’ or ‘one’ group, I stand still. I stop and watch to see where this is going to lead. It doesn’t matter to me who makes the call, only that it is sincere, really about a start towards an understanding of what is needed to move us from where we are stuck to where we have to go.

We may not want to go anywhere, but where we are fastened helplessly, self-destructively. The evidence is there for all to see and determine for themselves, what disunity and disharmony have brought us, and where both lead us today.

Before it was politics and who has the stronger claim (numbers) to govern all Guyanese, and who has the greater right (history) to patrol the pews of power, and to rule over us. Today, both of those are still present, but now there is the added flame of oil, this most volatile and

divisive of commodities. It is an inflammatory mix made in hell, one in which we love to stew, and fall more in love daily, due to the little occasional drips that trickle our way.

Talk about togetherness or oneness now, and it is the equivalent of neither will nor testament nor trust, only everyone staking a claim to oil’s bequests, its countless prospects. There are no brothers of the same source and same soil anymore, there are only the tantalising prospects, and who must get, and who must not. In this worst of family feuds and national disputes, the lawyers are not ones doing the dividing and making a killing. The politicians are.

They make promises that they never intend to honour, which polarise us, impassion us, and prejudice us still further. There is no letup in the vigilance that regards contemporaries and neighbours as enemies. It might be Labour Day or Independence Day, Arrival or Emancipation, but there is a common cord, every day here is either All Fool’s Day or Boxing Day. In the former political leaders

and their groups make total asses out of Guyanese with their hypocrisies, flatteries, or falsities about unity; in the latter, the longed-for unity degrades into either the oral tussles, written assaults, social media vilifications, or the actual low blows, headbutts, and elbows that have come to grace the national ring in which we somehow coexist.

There is nothing that I would call for more on Labour Day, or any other day, than a unified and solidified national front. But, given the political climate in which we live, and its ever-rising heat, such a call only triggers a countercall for one’s head.

It is never less than astonishing that Guyanese watch, know, and understand fully how a few men and women misrepresent and mislead them, and still give them free rein to make a mockery of their hopes, dash their dreams, bury their aspirations.

I am still more startled that the rank and file of the masses could survey the local coast for themselves, and effortlessly identify the few scores of Guyanese who reap the lavish, overflowing riches

of this country, while the other 750,000 (or 780,000) have to be content with whatever handout or charity or other cheap trickery of ruling political leaders come their way.

It is how a nation is patronised and pauperised, but one that is still so conflicted by its bigotries and related passions that unity is the dirtiest of subjects in this corner of the world.

The savvy oilmen know this, and they use or own dirty sticks to beat us into submission, so consumed we are, so addicted we are, to the disunities and disharmonies now deep-seated national ideology and culture. We call when it suits our whims – maybe, our fantasies also – for unity, when we ourselves are the biggest contributors to what are national tragedies from our own minds.

Because we lack sincerity, we live with perversity.

When we are empty of authenticity, then our lot is the iniquity of this destructive, disgraceful disunity.

Thoughtful holiday to all!

Sincerely, GHK Lall

When new oil discoveries are announced, do we cry or do we rejoice?

DEAR EDITOR, When new oil discoveries are announced, should Guyanese jump for joy or should we wail and lament that rapacious foreign neocolonial corporations will ship away the bulk of the benefits and leave the Guyanese people with crumbs? Whatever the amount of oil we have or regardless of how much oil is discovered, of every 100 barrels, Guyana gets only 15 barrels and the oil companies get 85 barrels. Nation, is this a fair deal? It is so sad that both our Government and Opposition are in bed with the oil imperialists against their own people. These two parties used to be anti-imperialists and working class. Now they watch out for the bourgeoisie and petty bourgeoisie and lend their feet to oil companies with their boots on the necks of the Guyanese people. Can you imagine our PPP Government which said it will renegotiate the contract but did not do so, is defending this rotten deal in court and fighting for the bad taxation clauses of the contract against Mr. Glenn Lall who represents the working class of Guyana? It is sad when your own Government betrays the people of Guyana. And not to be outdone, the Opposition guy denies he ever used the word “renegotiation.” Is it true he met with Exxon in a recent visit to the USA? In January 2022, there was a headline,

“ExxonMobil discovers more oil off Guyana’s coast.” Last week, the headline was “Exxon triple discoveries catapult Guyana resource base to almost 11 billion barrels.” Then there was a headline, “Pace of Guyana’s oil and gas development ‘unprecedented’ – Routledge.” So, when the headline says the new discoveries “catapult” Guyana’s resource base, it does not catapult the 2% royalty. The royalty stays the same. And we remain a “rich country of poor people” as our President likes to describe us. New discoveries mean profits galore for the oil barons, but misery and poverty for our country that gets a pittance from the large pool of income.

This is a country that does not have the basic facilities to test for cyanide when people die of suspected cyanide poisoning. Although we had a big cyanide spill in the mining industry, it does not appear as if we developed capacity to test for cyanide. The list of national needs remains long and unmet. So, when big oil discoveries are announced, and there will be many more such announcements, it is a big pay day for the stockholders of Exxon, HESS and CNOOC. The oil companies are salivating and celebrating about huge profits to come. For Guyanese, it is an ongoing sadness and lamentation, because poor people will never become rich, under the current system.

It behooves us as a people to not rest until both the Government and the Opposition come together to fight for a better oil deal than we have now. Let’s push our unions,

churches, NGOs and civil society groups to come together and change this rotten oil deal. Wake up Guyana!

Sincerely, Dr. Jerry Jailall

Support for athlete in bad times must be provided DEAR EDITOR, Maybe I missed it, but I do not recall seeing condolence messages from the Sport Ministry, the GCB or even other cricket fraternities including CWI to Veerasammy Permaul, a national cricketer, on the sad passing of his mother.

These organisations should follow the lead of the

Albion Cricket Club, if they have not done so.

Support in the bad times for an athlete is equally important and must be provided.

I offer to the Permaul family my condolences at this very sad time. May Mrs. Permaul rest peacefully.

Shamshun Mohamed

Respect your country; Guyanese keep it clean inneedthetogarbage. take some pride in DEAR EDITOR, The single use plastic bag problem in Guyana can easily be solved. The U.S has solved the problem of the single use plastic bags by banning these bags and bringing in a sturdier plastic bag which the consumer has to buy for 5 US cents (approximately $5 Guyana dollars) each. You can either reuse the sturdier bags or purchase another set on your next shopping. Problem solved as no one wants to buy bags just to dump them

their country and stop littering everywhere in the streets.

Anyone caught littering should be made to pay a fine of $5,000 to the City Council and given a receipt with a stern warning that the next time caught littering the fine will be $10,000.

Only then will the litterbugs learn to respect their country and keep it clean. Our leaders need to take a firm stand - they will never be able to please everyone.

Yours truly, Gloria Holder

Monday May 02, 2022

A Muslim place of worship is called a “Masjid”; not a “Mosque” DEAR EDITOR, The correct word used to describe the place of worship for Muslims is “Masjid” and not “Mosque”.

As Muslims just completed their 30 days of fasting in Ramadan, I noted that many are using the word “Mosque”.

As recorded in the Book titled: Understanding Islam

by Yahiya Emerick - “the word “Mosque” is derived from the Spanish word for mosquito and came into use during the Christian invasion of Muslim in Spain

in the fifteenth century.

The forces of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella boasted they would swat out Muslim prayer houses like mosquitoes” The name Muslims should be used when referring to a “Mosque” is the Arabic word “Masjid”, which translates as a place of bowing down – prostration, an act that Muslims perform during prayer salah.

In Guyana and in India, based on my interaction with Indians from India, I note that the word

“Masjid” is commonly used; but today’s Imams and Muslims in most parts of the world are using “mosque” as the acceptable description of their place of worship.

Also, it is noted that many Masjids are titled with the word “Mosque” added on, such as the AlAqsa Mosque.

Given all of that, it makes me wonder whether Muslims ever gave thought to the origin of the word they so commonly use.

Thank you, Faizul Rahim

Don’t make joke with the Guyana Police Force!

DEAR EDITOR, Over the years, many people, especially drivers got accustomed to bribing their ways out of situations and got accustomed to getting away, and in some cases ignoring the tickets that are issued to them.

The system was in such a way, that everyone was benefitting, but conveniently the police do take action and penalised errant people.

Editor, many people usually get tickets, discard them without paying and those who got charged refuse to attend court, and instead would go to the arresting officer, senior officer, court orderly, or the

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Kaieteur News

prosecutor and offer a bribe to duck the docket.

Now, many drivers were enjoying this lawlessness and fortunately, they don’t know or believe things are ok, even though changes are happening, they disregard them.

Unknown to them, many warrants were issued when the matter was called in court.

U n k n o w n t o m a n y, when a warrant is issued, the police would wait to e x e c u t e t h e w a rrant on weekends, especially when the weekends are long.

The law is such a way, once a warrant is issued, the police could arrest you and compel you to keep you in

custody until the next court day.

No one cannot legally get the police to release you from police custody.

Now, this weekend is very long, and conveniently the police decided to act accordingly against a few Route 32 minibus drivers and make quite a f e w a r r e s t s o n F r i d a y.

Today numerous drivers are at the La Grange police lockup and their family are complaining because the drivers’ families are making all attempts to reach all types of people to get their release.

Hope they learn their lesson.

Sahadeo Bates

Avoiding the pitfalls of our neighbour DEAR EDITOR, Today our discussion centres around the pitfalls made by our oil rich Caribbean neighbour Trinidad and the way they utilised their sovereign wealth. I would pause here to off e r a n a p o l o g y t o D r.

Rowley if unintentionally I might have stepped on his toes, because these days once you mention the word Trinidad, you are automatically a UNC member and an enemy of the h o n o u rable doctor. I am neither of the two, so I stand in the clear when I speak.

Now, we are all in remembrance of the oil boom y e a r s o f t h e r e public and the prosperity with which it brings, Trinidad was in the height of prosperity as black gold flowed bountifully.

Trinidad had its own refinery, refining its own oil, there were other spinoffs such as having a vehicle assembly plant and its own national airline.

Not forgetting the massive infrastructural works in roads a n d s u p e r h i g h ways; this country was a t t h e t o p o f its game; Tr i n i d a d ’s r e m a r k a b l e achievements spanned far and wide.

N o w, t h e e c o n o m i c planners of the day decided to be a little more generous to the people at the bottom of the economic ladder by instituti n g t h a t g r a n d w elfare programme, Cost of Liv-

ing Allowance (COLA).

It afforded the masses a monetary sum to offset daily expenses.

In layman’s term with COLA a man could have taken care of his immediate family and his “jabal/s” at the side quite comfortably and believe you me, this is exactly what took place.

Many left their jobs and subsisted solely on COLA. S o m e o f t h e v e ry same people who strongly agitated that they were poor and wanted part of the sovereign wealth, suddenly became owners of two or more vehicles, living in a property that was not theirs.

They were living life to its fullest.

So when things took a downturn in that country, you could have heard many grumbling in that sing song “Trini Accent” life is hard in Trinidad.

We want to avoid those pitfalls.

So, like Trinidad, Guyana is on the upswing, we are in the top 10 oil producing states in the world with matching income from oil revenue.

Some of the so-called economic geniuses of the day are of the opinion that Guyana should become a “welfare organisation” and just share out oil monies far and wide.

I think it is the WPA doctor who advocated that e a c h p e r son living in Guyana should be given US$5,000.

A pretty nice sounding proposal but very back-

ward when it comes to real economic terms.

You give a man a fish and he will always be b a c k f o r a n o t h e r fish, rather, teach him the indepe n d e n t e c o n o m i c p h i losophy of catching a fish for himself, because if we stick to that giving out thinking, we are well into making the same mistakes as other countries did.

We have a far way to go, I am talking about fixing our infrastructure, housing, w a t e r, healthcare as well as opening up our country for investment and the provision of jobs.

It is also putting away for a rainy day, these are the pillars on which true development is pivoted. It is the long term benefits and futuristic outlook of any c o u n t r y, r i g h t l y c a l l e d people living comfortably in a rich country and not the other way round.

The economic planners in the PPP/C are taking care of these fundamental principles and for this we are proud.

Respectfully Submitted, Neil Adams

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Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Time workers in and out of the Public Service to unite and put an end to uncaring, unconscionable and ruthless treatment DEAR EDITOR, Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU) wholeheartedly advocates and supports good governance, because it believes such a hallmark leads to the realisation of true democracy, progress and development on the macro level and citizens that are satisfied, healthy and happy on the micro level. Over the years, successive Governments have destroyed possibilities of Guyana’s development through selfish political agendas that have done nothing to satisfy the motto: “One People, One Nation, One Destiny.” It is in this context that GPSU elaborates on some of its major concerns on the occasion of the observance of Workers’ Day 2022.

The Constitution of Guyana entitles all citizens to freedom of association, as well as, trade union rights.

Notwithstanding this constitutional entitlement there has

been glaring double standards by governments’ disrespect for this mandate. Very often workers are treated with disdain based on their perceived political affiliation or ethnicity.

Similarly, organisations are likewise treated based on politicians’ opinions or perceptions of political allegiances and are often subjected to various acts of discrimination and victimisation, including unlawful abuses, acts of executive lawlessness and unlawful political conduct that are clearly and frequently displayed through the abuse of both workers and citizens alike.

Discrimination and victimisation have taken many forms, viz. · Non-renewal of employment contracts of senior ranking persons, who were inappropriately labelled as operatives of opposing political parties, to make way for

party supporters and opportunists, who are willing to do Governments’ bidding. · Politically orchestrated supersessions, in clear violation of the Constitution of Guyana established rules. · Denial of the right to work, including the denial of full property. These violations of workers’ rights also occurred through the use of illegal COVID-19 orders, where workers without COVID-19 vaccinations were locked out of workplaces and deemed absent from duty without leave. Some had their employment terminated, while some suffered salary cuts, in violation of their constitutional rights. ·Payment of poverty wages, salaries and allowances, a policy seemingly designed or intended to keep workers weak, while selectively paying higher wages, salaries and allowances to a chosen few.

· Acting in conflict with workers’ rights enshrined in the Constitution, Labour Laws, ILO Conventions, and legally binding Collective Labour Agreements (CLA) of which Governments are well aware or cannot use ignorance to disclaim. ·Failure to reconstitute several Constitutional bodies, including the Public Service Commission, a ploy detrimental and unfair to Public Servants. · Ill-treatment and disrespect for women folk from the heights of the Judiciary and Legislature to ordinary citizens. ·Atrocious and risky work environments, especially in the health sector. · The manifestation of total disregard for Trade Unions and the rights of workers by consecutive appointments of incompetent Ministers of Labour, in the forms of Keith Scott and Joseph Hamilton, both of whom lack knowledge about the responsibilities of the Ministry of Labour and therefore lost themselves in a political abyss, with the penchant of disinterest in the rights of workers. This is compounded

by Mr. Hamilton’s statement that Trade Unions are irrelevant and was notably absent from the Wreath Laying Ceremony for Critchlow which was the first in the history of the country. The unlawful discriminatory acts and abuses, including acts of executive lawlessness and illegal political conduct must and will be challenged by the GPSU, not only because they are impediments to racial harmony, but majorly, a firm stance must be taken to herald in good governance in Guyana. It must be reiterated that GPSU is an political Organisation that respects its members’ constitutional rights and freedoms to participate in any Organisation of their choice and is prepared to defend those rights. GPSU is also a principled trade union, which strives to ensure that its members are committed to their professional employment obligations. The PPP/C Government, since its return to office in the year 2020, continued the glaring tirade to politicise the public services towards its own narrow political aspirations. In this regard, it has been facilitating political involvement in the Public Service through the implantation of political operatives under specialised contracts within the Public Service and in instances appointments are made against established Public Service positions. This has proven

detrimental to effectiveness of public services, national unity, and has had debilitating effects on national development. On November 18, 2021 the PPP/C regime imposed a meagre 7% increase in wages and salaries on Public Servants, the premier workforce sending shockwaves through the Nation that observed and reacted positively to its 2020 election campaign promise of a much-deserved 50 percent Wages and Salary increase for Public Servants. Following the declaration of the miniscule increase, persons in society, including the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, were horrified at what now appears to be blatant misrepresentation at the political level. Soon thereafter the media was abuzz with evidence of prior Parliamentary support for both the collective bargaining process and 50% wages and salaries increases for Public Servants and the subsequent People Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/ C) campaign lure that was said to be photoshopped.

Government was well aware of the ever-increasing costs of living and the related suffering throughout the rank and file, during the years 2020 and 2021, but opted to make the shameful declaration.

Of course, for its failure to utilise the collective bargaining process, over the one and one-half years in office, the Government proffered another barefaced act of misrepresentation to the peoples of Guyana by claiming that time did not permit them to do so, as though Government had the discretion to determine to, or not to, observe the rule of law. In fact, Government’s scant regard for the rule of law saw them pandering to their political constituents and squandering public resources on political gimmicks, that made no impact on the pain and suffering of the masses, which of course included the Public Servants that suffered throughout the years 2020 and 2021 without any meaningful cushion to the severe economic impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and skyrocketing costs. There were no measures to bolster the drought in the increases of salaries for Public Servants, except for a meagre one-off payment of $25,000 that that was paid late in the year 2020 and then the paltry seven percent (7%) that was foisted on them around Christmas 2021.

The Government highhandedness occurred at a time when the muchvaunted Head of State gave a commitment in a press conference to the effect that the

Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Public Service be meeting with the GPSU to negotiate wages and salaries.

In so doing, Government disregarded, among other things, the Constitution, the rule of law, Parliament ratified International Labour Organization Conventions that are in force, legally binding Collective Labour Agreements and workers’ rights that encompassed legitimate, urgent and essential working class matters. Such was the calculated and wicked display of disrespect and disregard that the PPP/C regime imposed upon the hard-working Public Service workforce, in and out of uniform. Government also frustrated all efforts to sit lawfully, professionally and decently with the GPSU to deal with matters relating to increases in wages and salaries.

While frustrating the Union’s attempts to jumpstart the Collective Bargaining process, Government was simultaneously attempting to undermine the Union by compromising workers’ rights and making them vulnerable. The true character of the regime’s disregard for democracy, the Constitution and Laws of Guyana became more pellucid, even with false claims of having working class credentials.

Interestingly, Government is on record claiming that the paltry seven percent (7%) was all it could afford for Public Servants. Notwithstanding this claim, the evidence shows that this Government under the guise of termination benefits, doled out $1.875 billion dollars to 7,500 severed sugar workers, who had already received severance benefits from the APNU+AFC Administration.

This hypocrisy is ongoing with Countrywide political gimmickry within PPP/C constituencies, where, as recent as, week ending April 29, 2022, hefty promises were made involving financial outlays of billions of Guyana dollars, but the cash strapped Public Servants that have consistently been paid starvation wages are not suitably considered. One cannot overemphasise the disdainful treatment of the hard-working Frontline Workers, including Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) Staffers, Nurses, Doctors, and other healthcare workers. The daily inputs from these workers benefit the nation significantly, albeit because of their commitment and professionalism, even during the onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

(Continued on page 17)

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BL TLUNT.. UNT...B BL Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Guyanese are not fools!

We all, overtime, come to realise those who are for us and those who are pretending to have our backs.

Guyanese see and Guyanese know who these people are.

As the maxim goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me.

Sadly, some Guyanese have surrendered to being fooled but we at this publication are on a mission to reverse the curse of foolishness in this land. For too long we have seen Guyanese accept this despicable fate, but not anymore.

We at this publication will show our people the way. We will enlighten them about exactly what's wrong with this country and inform them of what must be done to ensure that they can attain a better life for themselves and generations to come.

No more will the liars (you know yourselves) convince our people that a life of poverty is their fate.

PAGE 07

PAGE 08

Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

EAB rules no environmental impact assessment needed for new DHB The Environmental Assessment Board (EAB recently announced that an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) would not be required for the new Demerara River Bridge that will land between Nandy Park, East Bank Demerara and La Grange, West Bank Demerara.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) uploaded the decision made by the EAB on Tuesday, to its website.

A decision was made back in August last year that the environmental study was not required; however an appeal was made for the agency to review this decision. The appellant,

environmentalist Simone Mangal-Joly argued in her oral presentations that the EPA needed the engineering designs for the bridge to draw conclusions on likely impacts, and that the EPA failed to justify the waiver with the reasons it published.

She explained that with a project such as the bridge, with an elevated access ramp road for vehicles to get up to the bridge, the impact assessment and design process must go together, as the design is often altered based on modelling of impacts. She argued that the EPA was putting the cart before the horse in waiving the EIA. The Appellant's

presentation outlined arguments including areas such as the Hydromorphic dynamic and feeder roads impacts, siltation, and absence of a final bridge design, as reasons for an impact assessment to be done.

The EAB said it “upholds the decision of the EPA that no ESIA is required for the Project with the condition that there is no significant change to the conceptual design presented. Any significant departure from the design presented should trigger a further review by the EPA on the necessity of an ESIA.” It was keen to note that the decision was made after

considering the issues raised by the appellant as well as the information provided by the developer, the Ministry of Public Works. Specifically, the Board noted that the major impacts of the general structure of the proposed bridge were explored through the feasibility and other studies that were conducted and based on a conceptual design that is congruent to what the Ministry of Public Works indicated will be the final design.

In addition to giving the new Demerara River Crossing its blessing, the EAB also recommended that an Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

be compiled for the project before construction commences. The document is expected to be informed by a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program and include key details regarding the project. This includes: identification of impacts, methodology for assessing their magnitude on receptors, and mitigation outcomes of the final design; detailed monitoring plan developed and finalised with stakeholder feedback; Assessment Reports for both construction and operation that address knowledge gaps on the influence of the bridge on sediment dynamics, river f l o w s / v e l o c i t y, establishment of

hydrological baselines, air quality, surface water quality, and noise levels on the main roads that will receive traffic leaving the bridge, resettlement needs; complete updated analysis and projection of future road and marine traffic loads and p a t t e r n s a n d a comprehensive inclusion of all feeder roads and bypasses reflective of current development plans in the national infrastructure programme.

The plan must also include information on the proposed location(s) selected regarding the susceptibility to flooding, the impacts of any increase/decrease in (Continued on page 10)

Pres. Ali calls for better working relations between CARICOM and the US

P

resident Irfaan Ali last week called for a better working relationship between the United States of America and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), especially in understanding and respecting the policies of the Region.

In a virtual discussion with the Vice President of the USA, Her Excellency Kamala Harris, the Guyanese Head of State spoke about the “strong and strengthened relationship” between the US and Guyana, but he also called for more trust and better coordination at both the country-to-country level and between the US and CARICOM. “There is an absolute need for the building of trust—trust in our policy formulation, and trust and predictability in what we do; trust in the partnership that we seek to endeavour and this trust, I think, must lead to an institutional arrangement, outside of the annual meeting that will allow us to address some very key issues—energy and climate change being two of them.”

The President joined the Prime Minister of Barbados, the Honourable Mia Mottley in Bridgetown for the virtual meeting, where he also called for the need to address international taxation

President Irfaan Ali policies, the future direction of those policies and the possibility of their severe impact on the Region's economies. “Many of our countries are facing a disproportionate application of international regulation and laws.”

CARICOM AND FOSSIL FUELS President Ali also spoke extensively on climate change and fossil fuels. He said that while the world is heading in the direction of reducing its dependence on fossil fuels, locking out new suppliers can create a monopoly for those who are currently involved in the oil industry.

“The question is, if you're locking out new suppliers, it is to whose advantage? We can be very well creating a monopoly for those who are already in the business, who have

already extracted this natural resource and developed their own jurisdiction.”

He said that this is an issue that requires an “indepth conversation” and that the region “must be part of that conversation in defining this policy going forward”.

The President also spoke about Guyana's standing forest, which stores 19.5 gigatonnes of carbon and is worth US$500b. He said that the annual revenue the country should receive from carbon credits stands at US$200m.

On the matter of climate change, adaptation and mitigation, the President explained that forested countries, such as Guyana, are not prioritised. He said that Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson assured him this week that “he is spearheading an effort” to ensure that standing forests become a priority. “I think this need also to be on the [US] agenda.”

The issue of climate change, according to President Ali, requires stronger conversations, especially when it comes to financial pledges from developed nations. The President also spoke about energy sustainability, food security and regional security and about the bolstered relationship (Continued on page 9)

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 9

Kaieteur News

The NIS is protected against bankruptcy The National Insurance Scheme (NIS) is not facing bankruptcy. Nor are the benefits of contributors threatened.

Anyone familiar with the functioning of national insurance schemes would appreciate that provision is always made to secure contributors’ benefits. Unfortunately, this has never prevented persons from painting doomsday scenarios.

The NIS is secure because its liabilities are backed by the State. The Act establishing the NIS provides for the establishment of a Fund into which all contributions and interest from earnings and investment are deposited. It is out of this Fund that benefits are paid. However, the NIS Act also provides that in the event of the insufficiency of the assets of the Fund to meet the NIS’s liabilities, the shortfall will be met by sums allocated by the National Assembly.

There is therefore absolutely no possibility of the NIS Fund going bust because it has an iron-clad guarantee to be bailed out by the government. Those who are therefore raising alarm bells and demanding the government bail out the institution

may therefore be unfamiliar with the fact that the Fund is secured by a guarantee under the law.

This is not to say that there are no problems with the Fund and its management.

The Minister with responsibility for Finance in his Budget Speech this year announced that the long-term viability of the Fund was threatened.

And Second Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo recently said that the NIS will be secured for the next 100 years.

He has assured that if the government had to intervene it will and is required to do so.

Jagdeo has defended the returns on the investments made by the NIS in the Berbice River Bridge, his pet project.

He has indicated that the NIS earned more than G$3B from both bonds and preference shares. But he has not said how much it earned in respect to its ordinary shares in the Bridge. A forensic audit undertaken by the APNU+AFC government had shown that from 2011 to 2014, there were no earnings from these ordinary shares.

Jagdeo was also strangely silent on the more than 5 million shares, estimated at some

$5B which the NIS invested in CLICO. It is this investment, more than any other, which jeopardised the longterm future of the NIS. As at 2015, it was estimated that the Fund had lost more than G$2B in interest and principal payments.

NIS was however able to take ownership of the CLICO headquarters in Camp Street which, when it did, was valued at G$600M. It is now renting that structure to the Guyana Revenue Authority.

GRA, however, is constructing a new headquarters and when its removes from the said Camp Street location, the NIS should place this building on the open market to see how best it can cut its losses.

The Berbice River Bridge is expected to be handed over to the government in 2027.

The NIS should, during this period, be negotiating to sell its ordinary shares to the government even prior to then.

Rather than being critical of the PPP/C’s handling of the NIS, the APNU has to shoulder its fair share of blame for the problems confronting the Scheme.

The NIS underperformed under the APNU+AFC, between 2015 and 2020, moving from an

'Glaring conflict of interest'...

From page 3 populations in the Caribbean region, including rare species.

She had control of the overall day-to-day management of the technical execution for EIA process and technical review of the study's Biological Resources chapter.

ERM credibility Environmentalists had

questioned the independence and credibility of ERM during the public consultations on the Yellowtail development, Exxon's fourth project, since the consultancy firm has been the lone institution to conduct such studies on the oil company's behalf, in Guyana.

Even after those concerns

were ventilated, ExxonMobil and the local regulator, the Environmental Protection Agency still selected ERM to conduct another EIA, this time for the Gas-to-Energy project.

So far, ERM has been the only Consultant, since 2017, that has been conducting EIAs on behalf of EEPGL.

FPres. Ali calls for better working relations...

From page 8 between Guyana and the US. “The US is playing a major role in the development of our energy sector from the

private sector's perspective and I must say, at the diplomatic level, the repr esentation locally has also helped us.”

President Ali stopped in Barbados while returning to Guyana from a fourday visit to the United Kingdom.

Dem boys seh...

Sand in my shoes

Since dem boys went in napkins, dem used to hear people warning yuh nah fuh build yuh house pon sand. Dem boys use to think dat wah dem bin saying was really dat yuh house muss gat a strong foundation.

Dem boys also read how yuh can’t build yuh house out ah straw because de wolf gan come and blow it down. Dem gat nuff people building dem future pun sand and straw.

Now we hear how de guvament building a city pun sand. Dem calling it Silica City. Dem boys did

thought dat de plans fuh it was caught in a Vice. But now it look like if de vice get loose.

If yuh understand wat de Good book did tell yuh, yuh would know dat is not de sand or de house is de moral. Is de moral foundation on which yuh standing.

It mek dem boys remember de story of de man and de border guards. At de border between Germany and Austria dem gat a check-point.

Every week a man use to be riding he motorcycle carrying two bags full ah sand.

De border guard, a old man, search both bags every time, but he neva find anything.

Suh he use to pass de man through.

Dis go on fuh years until de border guard last day pon de job before retirement. Again de man come to de border, two bags full with sand. De guard asks he: “Look man, today is meh last day. I know yuh smuggling SOMETHING suh please tell meh, I won’t bust you.

I want know since ah never find anything in de bags.”

De man grin and say: “Ah smuggling motorcycles.”

Talk half and stop looking only at de sand.

operating surplus of almost $1 billion to 1.7 billion in deficit.

The APNU+AFC coalition, therefore, is in no position to be critical of the management of the affairs of the NIS. The NIS problem is that its income is insufficient to meet its liabilities. Part of the problem is that contributions from employees are insufficient. Jagdeo tries to suggest that with some 7,000 sugar workers being terminated under the APNU+AFC that this has done terminal harm to NIS contributions. But GUYSUCO itself has been accused of owing the NIS large sums.

The problem boils down to the high level of informality in the Guyanese economy.

There are far too many per-

sons who are working and not contributing to the NIS. Some of them claim, with some justification, that given their advanced ages, it makes no sense for them to register with the NIS because they will never reach the 750 contributions needed to receive a pension, notwithstanding that the law requires all workers to pay NIS. There are tens of thousands of self-employed persons who are not paying NIS. There are domestic and household workers in the homes of the rich and famous who are not being registered for NIS. Some employers religiously deduct NIS contributions from their staff. But they

do not pay these over.

The NIS has management problems. It always has. But its fundamental problem is that the high level of informality deprives it of much needed income in a country with an already relatively small workforce.

(The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of this newspaper.)

Kaieteur News

PAGE 10

Monday May 02, 2022

THE FREDDIE KISSOON COLUMN

On May Day 2022, new union leaders are needed Andaiye on May 14, 2002 wrote the words: “not in my name” when the murdering, racists gunmen during the Buxton mayhem published a pamphlet shouting out that they were acting on behalf of African Guyanese.

Isabelle DeCaires, on March 7, 2020, in rejection of those rigging the election, wrote: “I say as one Guyanese, no, not in my name.” Every three or six months, a new organisation is born with people of flaky character, having no credible membership exclaiming that they are speaking on behalf of the Guyanese people.

I will reject paper organisations and dubious personalities speaking on behalf of me. You can use whatever vocabulary you like to derogate me, you can contact my newspaper to stop it publishing my replies to you, but I will not be deterred.

No, do not speak on my behalf. Each time you say you are, you will hear from me. No, not in my name!

But there are older organisations whose unacceptable, antidemocratic leaders continue to say that they represent the Guyanese people. No, you do not represent me and thousands like me. You do not represent the Guyanese people. The incident I am about to describe to you is the kind of evil I have spent my entire life preaching against.

It is the kind of misconduct that I have been exposing my entire life so the Guyanese people can learn.

You cannot criticise governmental leaders for lack of principles, moral righteousness, trust, ethical deportment, accountability, and transparency, and your behaviour and attitude are no different. When you get into government you will do the same or worse.

After 23 years of sleeping at the bottom of the political ocean, the PNC got power and showed Guyana it was not a superior moral and political force.

The AFC criticised the PPP government with rabid frenzy. When the Guyanese people listened and agreed with them and entrusted them with power, the AFC turned out to be the worst violators of everything decent in politics.

Now for the incident. The Trade Union Recognition Board has abrogated its recognition agreement given in February 2020, with a union to represent drivers at Cyril's Taxi Service.

The secretary of the board informed the public of a nasty and ugly conflict of interest, the kinds of things that this nation must not accept. The laws of morality govern civilisation.

The secretary informed the nation that the union applied for recognition of drivers that service the employees of EXXON only and not total drivers of Cyril's. It turned out the board granted recognition to the union to cover all the drivers and the head of the

union sat on the recognition board.

Tw o c o m p e l l i n g questions enter your mind.

Was certification wrongly given to cover all drivers because the union head sat on the board? And was this not an insane manifestation of conflict of interest? An analogy goes something like this.

A student appealed his B grade and was given an A grade by the parents/teachers' association.

And guess who sat on the association – the student's father.

Decency, morality and commonsense should have prevailed and the father should have recused himself when the appeal was being heard. For all the years, critics have been lambasting the government from Forbes Burnham right up to Dr. Irfaan Ali, countless numbers of these critics were/are hypocrites whose standards were so low that they disqualified them from

chastising any president.

This is the kind of morbid hypocrisy I have sermonised against my entire life.

Frederick Kissoon And it continues up to this day. They are dark minds out there that rejoice at s t eal your neighbours t h e a n t i - g o v e r n m e n t chickens.

If you want an elected diatribes they throw at government to accommodate governmental leaders. you, you must possess moral But you pen one line credibility.

Do not form exposing their ugly double paper organisations and standards and they contact d e m a n d a n e l e c t ed your newspaper to stop you.

There is an online government listen to you.

Do not speak on behalf of newspaper named Village t h e Guyanese people.

Voice that has many writers Finally, on this day, the hostile to the PPP government and their racially average Guyanese should charged advocacy is not peruse the list of leaders in hidden. But it has been taken the trade union movement. to court for copyright Some of these leaders have infringement by the owner been in office more than 30 who contends his paper has years. They have become the owners of these unions and been hijacked. they behave as such.

I cannot expand because (The views expressed in the matter is before the this article are those of the courts.

Life has some simple a u t h o r a n d d o n o t rules. If you criticise the necessarily reflect the duck-thief, you should not opinions of this newspaper.)

Man beats Lethem farmer to death Miner missing after because cows ate his cassava boat crashes into rock

A 27-year-old man reportedly admitted to beating a Lethem farmer to death on Friday because the farmer's cows invaded his premises and destroyed his cassava.

The dead farmer has since been identified as 59year-old Cedric Jones, of Bashaizon, Deep South Rupununi, Region Nine.

Jones was reportedly killed around 17:20hrs right at Bashaizon following an argument with his confessed

killer. The suspect told police, "I told him (Jones) to take care of his animals that the animals are coming into my yard and damage my cassava.

Jones then charge towards me and I pushed him to the ground and kicked him but I can't recall which part I kicked him and he never moved."

Investigating ranks who visited the crime scene learnt that the suspect was drinking “Pine Wine” when he saw

Jones passing by. Jones had reportedly stopped to speak with him but the suspect confronted him about his cows and they reportedly got into an argument.

Eyewitnesses told the ranks that the suspect then pushed Jones to the ground and kicked him several times until he was motionless.

Police had picked up the motionless Jones and took him to the Lethem Regional Hospital where doctors pronounced him dead.

The Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is currently in the final stages of acquiring a new area, suitable for a landfill sanitary site in Bartica, Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni).

Once finalised, the area will be commissioned this year. The current sanitary site is located at Byderado, in the centre of the township.

Minister, Nigel Dharamlall, M.P., made this disclosure

during a community meeting held at the St. Anthony Primary School on Saturday.

Also present were Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kerwin Ward, Mayor of Bartica, His Worship Gifford Marshall and other officials.

Minister Dharamlall said the location of the current sanitary site is not good for human health. “We are going to do some development work where that (sanitary site) is concerned. Solid

waste is always a major problem, and I think the township of Bartica has been able to manage it much better than other areas. So, it means that we have responsible people in this township.”

The minister reiterated government's commitment to creating an integrated sanitation management system to enhance citizens' quality of life. With this in mind, the ministry has (Continued on page 17)

A miner on Saturday last went missing after the boat he was in crashed into a rock at Gatie Falls, Semang Creek, Middle Mazaruni River.

Reports from police stated that so far the miner has not been identified. The accident reportedly occur around 17:00hrs. Ranks investigating the incident reported that the blue and white wooden boat powered by a 75 HP outboard engine was occupied by five passengers. The vessel had left Long Island, Middle Mazaruni River enroute to Semang Creek.

Occupying the vessel were the captain,

Garfield Benn, 41, of Tassarene Village, Issano, Middle Mazaruni River, Griffith Joseph Fredericks, 43, a passenger, Kenneth Tancredo, age of 47, another passenger and 3 other unidentified persons.

Reports stated that the boat captain experienced issues with his leg and subsequently let one of the passengers control the boat. Whilst navigating, the boat's engine collided with a rock, tossing the passengers overboard as a result.

Everyone was later accounted for except the one miner. A search party has been deployed and investigations are ongoing.

Pres. Ali and Vickram Bharrat....

New landfill site being finalised for Bartica From aligns with the country's government specialists must page 2

EAB rules no environmental...

From page 8 surface run-off and the intended mitigation measures; handling and disposal of waste generated during construction and operation; measures to address any relocation

of residents within the nearby communities; river dynamics analysis and information on dredging required at the proposed location and mitigation measures especially for sediment discharge.

website that all FDPs must provide a clear explanation why the development concept being presented is considered optimum from a technical, environmental and economic perspective.

The authority also requires that companies set out the commitments they will follow to ensure enhanced oil recovery and sound development. The expert noted that Guyana is yet to p r o v e i f t h e Redford/Bayphase group achieved this since their findings remain a State secret.

Experts also told Kaieteur News that FDPs must also provide a production strategy that

interest. Such a strategy includes: Short-term and long-term plans on production acceleration and recoverable reserves, the number of production and injection wells and the cost to the nation, and an explanation of hydrocarbon bearing sands penetrated not included under the current development plan, but which could be profitable if assumption changes such as extent of reservoir or oil price.

FDPs also include detailed information, which the government needs experienced persons to review regarding production technology and well engineering. In this area,

diligently assess proposed well design concepts including trajectory and location, in flow performance prediction, sand control and sand management, explanation of concept selection and how value for money would be achieved on each component of the project.

In light of the foregoing, and in the interest of transparency, the industry experts agreed that the PPP/C Government should disclose a summary of the work performed by Bayphase and the Redford group to date, along with a summary of the type of data used and the methods by which it was assessed.

Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

PAGE 11

PAGE 12

Jagdeo describes Linden Hospital CEO as 'Wild' V

ice President, Bharrat Jagdeo has described the controversial Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Hospital Complex, Rudy Small as a 'wild card.'

Jagdeo made the comments last week when he addressed the press at the Office of the President. At the time he was referring to the opposition's pushback against Small. A number of regional leaders have been calling for the government to sack the CEO. Only two weeks ago Health Minster, Dr. Frank Anthony was forced to rescind dismissal letters issued by Small to over 20 workers of the hospital.

On Sunday Regional Chairman, Deron Adams chose to celebrate the workers' holiday, Labour Day, by signaling solidarity with the employees of the Linden Hospital Complex who he said are still saddled with Rudy Small at the helm of the organisation. The

Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Embattled, CEO of the Linden Hospital Complex, Rudy Small

Chairman stated according to a facebook post, that the antics of one man must not stymie the well-being of an entire workforce.

He alluded to the numerous firings, closing of contracts and the refusal to advertise

numerous vacancies that could provide permanent jobs for Lindeners, unlike the temporary jobs on offer from the Vice President. The Chairman also related that in many instances where employees were dismissed,

Front left- Region 10 Chairman, Deron Adams; MP Jermaine Figueira and RDC Councillor, Mark Goring picketing the hospital calling for the sacking of the CEO, Rudy Small.

their performance appraisal showed glowing attestation to their outstanding performance, yet these employees were still sent home. “It was these and many other issues that made it an imperative for the Chairman to stand with Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira and RDC

Councilor, Mark Goring in a silent picketing exercise outside of the Linden Hospital Complex, to demonstrate that this issue would not be lost amongst the other activities currently being 'promoted' in the town,” the chairman added.

Figueira was reported in the Village Voice News as

saying that Small's presence at the Linden Hospital Complex has presented some “very big and troubling concerns” for health care services in the mining town due to his management style. “…substantiated evidence…in our possession reaffirms that he is very (Continued on page 17)

Kaieteur News

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 13

Media workers slam lack of transparency in …cite dearth in public oil and gas sector information, education campaign L

ocal media houses continue to e x p r e s s disappointment over governments' poor posture when it comes to transparency and accountability within the oil and gas sector.

They again registered concerns about the lack of information as well as public education on the oil and gas sector. When President of the Guyana Press Association (GPA) Nazima Raghubir, appeared on Kaieteur Radio's Guyana's Oil and You Programme last week Thursday she told listeners that she thought after the 2020 elections, information on oil and gas would be more forthcoming. She said it is her view that everything involving tax payers' money should be an open book. She said that since 2015 information was kept quiet under the last government when oil was struck and a contract signed with ExxonMobil for the resources development. She said while several excuses were offered as to why documents were not made public then, she thought things would have been a bit different post-2020.

“I thought we would have been given more regular updates on this particular industry. I still see Exxon making announcements when it should be the government of Guyana. How many times are we gonna do

this where the company is making the announcement ahead of the government of a sovereign nation,” the GPA President questioned.

Raghubir continued that apart from the Natural Resource Minister, there are several persons within government and within the opposition whose job she believes it is to be providing all the necessary information.

S h e a d d e d h e r disappointment toward the lack of education drives that would allow citizens a chance to learn about the new industry. Raghubir said that she also expected to see the continuance of post Cabinet briefings that occurred under the pre 2015 People's Progressive Party (PPP) administration. That engagement she said would have provided for reporters' questions on oil and gas to be addressed.

“The most you can do is providing the public with the information let them see what is going on and let them make their own informed decisions.” Raghubir said she thought public engagements and educational events on oil and gas would have also occurred post 2020, but that was not done. The GPA President hopes that going forward with the recently passed Natural Resource Fund and its committee, information coming out of there would be made public since it deals directly with the money citizen's would have

From Left Abena Rockcliffe-Campbell, Nazima Raghubir and Kiana Wilburg during last Thursday's discussion.

Kemol King

received in exchange for oil.

And that the type of publicity, she said, involves live streaming to help increase citizens' information base.

Kemol King of OilNow

said that government should make more information available to the public since they are in possession of the necessary data. He said that, “We know that international

oil companies report information to the government. ExxonMobil has to report this information to the government every day.

So we know they have the information.”

King said however that when the said information is asked of the government, reporters are told to put in a request for it. “But I know that there are many countries where you don't have to go and ask you don't have to go through a request process to say who you are and what information you want.”

Anybody should be able to go on a website and find basic information as citizens and tax payers, he opined. Editor in Chief for the Guyana Standard Abena RockcliffeCampbell reminded of the

tailored answers that were initially given when the media sought answers about the new sector. “While I am seeing an effort to move away from that… it's like you're making the effort on this hand and on the other hand,… when information is asked for in certain other areas reporters are told to wait and that they have to go through a process.”

She said that the government has a Public Affairs minister and that position could be used more in the dissemination of public information.

She suggested that when information is requested of the government, it should be placed on the government's petroleum website so that (Continued on page 17)

Squash player killed in accident as drunk driver jumps traffic light Ian Mekdeci, a 27-year-old squash player of Guyana, was killed on Sunday and his friend is in a critical condition after a drunk driver reportedly jumped a traffic light and crashed into their car at the intersection of Vlissengen Road and Sandy Babb Street Kitty, Georgetown.

Mekdeci's friend has been identified as Sheik Baksh, 31, of Dowding Street Kitty. Baksh is currently hospitalised at Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation (GPHC) with a broken arm, lacerations to his head and a punctured lung. According to information received by Kaieteur News, Mekdeci and Baksh met with the accident around 02:15hrs.

Police reported that Baksh was driving at the time and they were

heading west along Sandy Babb Street. When they arrived at the intersection at Vlissengen Road the traffic light at their end was green and Baksh proceeded to drive across but as he was doing so, a jeep heading south along Vlissengen road jumped the red light and crashed into them.

As a result of the accident both Baksh and Mekdeci were severely injured. An ambulance was called and they were both rushed to GPHC where Mekdeci died while receiving treatment. Police have arrested the driver of the jeep and when they conducted a breathalyzer test on him, the results showed that his Breath Alcohol Content (BAC) was 161 and 151 percent, way above the legal limit.

Traffic ranks were also able to

Dead, Ian Mekdeci obtain camera footage of the accident and statements from independent witnesses. The driver remains in custody and is expected to face charges in the coming week.

Mekdeci is a well known Squash

The car that Mekdeci and his friend, Baksh were in. athlete in Guyana and at the time of his death he was an active participant of the ongoing Guyana Squash Association (GSA) organised 2021/2022 Squash league. In March he was the top

player in the league with a total of 12 wins during the season. Apart from his sports career he was also described as a diligent and hard working employee with a local company.

PAGE 14

Kaieteur News

Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 15

Removal of unfair terms in oil deals an ...Chatham House says countries have right to industry norm renegotiation to break free of disadvantageous provisions According to UK based transparency watchdog, Chatham House, it is quite reasonable and even considered normal practice in the petroleum industry, for countries to engage oil companies in the review and removal of terms contained in deals which may leave the country in a disadvantageous position. In fact, the not-forprofit organization said the refusal to do so can have a destabilizing effect on countries.

Chatham House is a nongovernmental organization whose mission is to analyze and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. The organization which has worked with local authorities on oil related matters since 2015, said that new data about a country's reserves may prompt its government to seek to revise the terms of

investment to its advantage.

This is quite normal it said.

Similarly, Chatham House said that companies sometimes approach governments to ask for a revision of terms to reduce the taxation or operational obligations they face during periods of economic difficulty.

Chatham House said, too, that over the course of 25–30 years, circumstances may change beyond the scope of pre-existing contracts and broader legislation, and governments may want to amend the investment terms, just as companies do. It said, “Against this backdrop…, our group debated the legitimacy of renegotiating an existing agreement. A near consensus emerged that renegotiation of terms was sometimes necessary in order to maintain a long-term partnership between oil companies and governments

because the refusal to review terms could be destabilizing and unfair to some countries.”

Chatham House continued, “It is also in the long-term interest of companies engaged in the country to ensure that the deal is viable. Discussions focused on one avenue for renegotiation, which is to include periodic review, renegotiation, economic balancing and adaptation clauses in contracts from the outset, allowing renegotiation when specific triggers are activated. Such clauses can add significantly to perception of investment risk for companies and require careful design.”

The transparency institute added, “But they have proven to be more efficient and fair mechanisms in comparison with classic freezing or stabilization clauses. In case

an oil company has not met its obligations under the applicable deal (or the laws/regulations) then the country may be within its rights to terminate the contract.”

Going forward, Chatham Hose recommended that governments should design progressive fiscal terms at the outset, in order to capture maximum windfalls as the geological and price contexts evolve. It said too, that governments should request external support where necessary to achieve this effectively.

Further to this, Chatham House advised that governments should seek to design contracts with a renegotiation or periodic review clause – which would allow renegotiation when specific triggers are activated. In this regard, the UK Body said, “Governments should

ensure that the clause is phrased in very clear language; that it specifies which terms are subject to renegotiation (local content, fiscal, environmental, financial terms); that it specifies what triggers would lead to renegotiation (political, cost, commodity price, and legal or tax changes); that it specifies clearly what is the baseline of the renegotiation/rebalance ex ante; and that it specifies the process of the renegotiation/rebalance ex ante.”

Chatham House also noted that there are several groups which can support governments in contract renegotiations. It said that these include the World Bank; the African Development Bank's African Legal Support Facility; the International Senior Lawyers Project; and the Commonwealth Secretariat's

Ocean Governance and Natural Resources Management Section.

LOPSIDED PROVISIONS Kaieteur News would have exposed via an extensive study published in 2019 that Guyana's PSA for the Stabroek Block has some of the world's worst provisions when compared to 130 other deals. For example, the PSA sees the government paying the contractor's income tax out of the country's share of the profits. However, none of the 130 PSAs examined shows this arrangement. Further, Guyana's PSA is the only one out of 130, which has very moderate work obligations for contractors who are vested with offshore licences. Additionally, the Guyana-ExxonMobil PSA is the only one out of 130 contracts, which has no (Continued on page 16)

Isseneru villagers call for halt in ...seek full compensation for human rights mining activities violation following IACHR ruling I

n wake of the decision by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that the Government of Guyana is guilty of violating the rights of residents of Isseneru, the community's leader is hoping that villagers will get full compensation for damages.

The villagers also want a cessation of all mining activities.

The call for swift action came during a press conference hosted last Friday

by Toshao of Isseneru village, Dhaness Larson and other village officials. Nine years ago, a petition was filed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) that the Government of Guyana has failed to recognise and protect the human rights of its people when granting mining permits on ancestral lands.

According to complaint, villagers claimed the authorities failed to protect the community from the negative impacts of mining which resulted in a host of health and social problems. In a recent decision, IACHR recommended that Guyana implement the measures for Isseneru Village in Region Seven (Cuyuni-Mazaruni)

and its members to receive full compensation for damages on the account of the violation of their human rights.

Additionally, the IACHR advised government to “amend its legislation in order to secure that the provisions of the relevant Acts and regulations related to indigenous territorial property are in harmony with the American Declaration, in accordance with international law according to the present merits report.”

As such, Isseneru villager are hoping that the government will be swift in its implementation of the IACHR's recommendations, including, among other things, that the necessary measures be adopted to ensure that the village and its members receive “full reparations for the material and immaterial damages they suffered on the account of the violation of their human rights.” “For years, we have felt the negative impact of these actions. Our waterways have been populated, our natural environment destroyed, our livelihoods diminished and our residents left to face a growing number of social ills,” Toshao Larson

Toshao of Isseneru village, Dhaness Larson and other village officials at the press conference last Friday.

told the news conference on Friday. The Toshao called on the government to “take significant steps” to address the violations.

T h e To s h a o a l s o advocated for a revision of the 2006 Amerindian Act, to further help protect the rights of indigenous people.

He announced that consultations will continue with the villagers to determine the way forward.

During the press conference representative of the Amerindian People's Association (APA) and Isseneru villager Dwight Larson noted consultations will allow the community to craft possible solutions that it will present to the government. “It is an urgent matter and we are prioritising

it in every possible way,” the APA representative said.

Since 2012, Akawaio Amerindians from the village of the Isseneru in Region Seven have been claiming that their rights were violated and the governance of their village undermined by the State.

The matter was taken to the High Court but the outcome was not in their favour. Amerindians from the Upper Mazaruni, had among other things, taken their case of land rights violations to the United Nations, hoping that the Special Rapporteurs could help force the government to revise the Amerindian Act. The Amerindian People's Association (APA) had teamed up with international NGO Forest People's

Programme to write the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; the Special Rapporteur on the Human Right to Safe D r i n k i n g Wa t e r a n d Sanitation; the Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food; the Special Rapporteur on Cultural Rights; United Nations Independent Expert on Human Rights Obligations relating to the Enjoyment of a Safe, Clean, Healthy and Sustainable Environment; Special Rapporteur on to the Enjoyment of the Highest Attainable Standard of Physical and Mental Health; and the Special Rapporteur on Environmentally Sound Management and Disposal of H a z a r d o u s Wa s t e s a n d Substances.

The NGOs claimed that the threats faced by the Akawaio communities of Isseneru and Kako due to mining on their lands are grave, imminent and substantial. “They are faced with irreparable harm to their social, cultural and environmental integrity if mining is allowed to continue and increase in their lands,” the NGOs stated.

The villagers claimed that the “discriminatory rulings” of the High Court privilege the interests of miners over Isseneru and Kako; allow this mining to take place with impunity; negate the rights of the affected communities; and disregard extant domestic laws such as the Mining Act and Environmental Protection Act.

PAGE 16

Kaieteur News

WANTED One Housekeeper.Must be able to cook,45-60 yrs old.

Must be living E.B.D. One handyman/store help, 6954785/265-3541.

Monday May 02, 2022

$28M estimated to reconstruct Haslington Nursery School Continued from Sunday edition

Supply and delivery of dental supplies

Procurement of security services for 20 locations Lot 1 to 5.

VEHICLE FOR SALE One Honda CRV,fully loaded immaculate condition, low mileage 3.3M negotiable & 1 new super custom Hiace Bus 2.5M .Contact:649-0956.

Ford Explorer Sports track & Land Rover Discovery. Excellent condition off road vehicles.Tel:615-8683/6180724.

White Toyota Verossa PLL Series,price 1.5Mil.Call:6086948.

1 Model M Truck,TM Truck,428 Caterpillar Backhoe,416 Caterpillar,Front end loader,Cement Mixer & Mini Excavator.Contact:650-0402/ 652-0251.

SERVICES Visa Application: U.S.A, Canada & UK; Graphics design,Advertisements, Wedding decorations & Elderly grooming: Hair,Nail etc.Tel:626-7040.

Installation, Repairs and parts for AC,Fridge, Washing machine, Stove etc.Call Nick#656-0110/630-1600.

Relaxing Massage Service.

Tel:674-8147.

FOR SALE 6-4 & 5 bedroom house at Schoonord,1-3 story building at Zeelugt public road,13 bedroom house at Blankenburg.Contact:6500402/652-0251.

Prime business spot (1/2 acre)@ Parika,9 houselots together at Blankenburg & Double lot at Tuschen. Contact:650-0402/652-0251.

PROPERTY FOR SALE Second Field South, West, Cummingslodge.Tel:6031278.

Durban 29x80 2.7M,Norton 30M, Highway57acres, Friend ship E.C.D, Garden of Eden 25M an acre 100x100 12M. Call:231-7805/618-7483.

3 story Herstelling 80M neg,2 story Onderneeming W.B.D 16M neg. Contact: 6093777,641-3893,686-0522,6974557.

Saffon St bottom flat (business) or bond. Providence four apts fully furnished.

Contact:Ray's Realty 6279685.

LAND FOR SALE Excellent location. Commercial/Residential Alberttown 185x39 close to everything.

Email: serious offers and enquiries to Alberttownsale @gmail. com.

Land and Building for sale,40ftx94ft.Le Ressouve n ir Main Public Road. Call:6451613.

WANTED Washbay workers at Nandy Park.Tel:233-5227/682-1616.

Experienced Taxi Driver & Minibus Driver at Princess Hotel(Princess Taxi Service).

Contact:616-5419/265-7075/ 265-7076.

Male able bodied clerk.

Tel:231-2029,616-5954.

Labourers,Skilled Carpenters & Masons to work in Georgetown & Linden. Contact:660-6385/615-7526/6029496.

Maid to work from 8:30hrs to 16:30hrs.Contact:649-9359.

1 experience Roti/Puri/Pastry Maker,Cook & Kitchen Assistance,between 5:306pm.Tel:603-1278.

One,Two,Three bedroom apartment furnish & unfurnish in Providence, Diamond, New Road, Vreed-enhoop.604-6664, 682-6238,2162299.

2 bedroom apartment for rent.Call on whatsapp only 518-709-2667.

One maid to work in G/ Town.Must be vaccinated.

Tel:226-2322 or 682-3300.

One handyman to maintain yard & do errands,must be vaccinated.Tel:226-2322.

Housekeepers to work at Guest House age 20-45,shift system.Tel:225-6337/6680306/655-7405.

Supply and delivery of one 4x4 vehicle for the Ministry

Vacancy for 2 experienced hairdresser.Location Grove E.B.D,Tel:652-5800.

Lash,Nail Technician & Mani-Pedicurist.Must be English literate. Contact: Reign L.A.B on 643-5855.

Supply and delivery of aluminum boats and engines

One able body Porter, Handyman,age 20-35yrs.

Must be vaccinated photo & recommendation. Keyfood McDoom Village.

Female Cleaner for office.

Call:642-9823.

Ministry of Home Affairs Procurement of UPS batteries and software

One Housekeeper.Tel:6082444/503-0359.

One Office Cleaner.Tel:6082444/503-0359.

Grade 2 Teachers,Secretary & Security Guards. Contact:6 49-8174.

Servicemen for Interior location. Applicants must be experienced. Call:231-2250.

1 Real Estate Agent and 1 Maid.Call:231-7805/618-7483.

Fitter Machinist,Welder fabricator & mechanic. 3 yrs experience.Call:642-9823 email:techserigy @yahoo. com.

Maid to cook and clean for East Bank area.Call:615-9132.

Motor Lorry drivers needed and Porters. Tel:627-1835/ 626-4691.

FOR RENT

VACANCY

One clerk for TSI Eccles office English & Math, grade 1 or 2.Call:615-9132 or email application to techserigy @yahoo.com.

Ministry of Health Supply and delivery of janitorial supplies for the nursing schools

Supply and delivery of radiology supplies

Removal of unfair...

From page 15 ring-fencing provisions to prevent costs of unsuccessful wells being carried over to that of successful wells. There is also no sliding scale for royalty to increase as production improves. And that is not all. Guyana's PSA is the only one out of 130 that allows insurance premiums to be fully recovered as well as interest on loans and financing costs that are incurred by the contractors. The 130 PSAs examined are part of a register on www.resourcecontracts.org. https:// r e s o u r c e c o n t r a c t s . o r g / search?q=Production+Sharing+Agreement+) That website offers over 620 PSAs from around the world for perusal. The Stabroek Block PSA was signed on June 27, 2016 with ExxonMobil and its partners, Hess Corporation and CNOOC/NEXEN.

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 17

Kaieteur News

UWI appoints first female principal at St Augustine campus (CMC) – The University of the West Indies (UWI) on Saturday appointed Professor Rose- M a r i e B e l l e Antoine as the new principal of the university’s St Augustine campus.

The decision was made during The UWI’s University Council meeting on April 29.

The appointment takes effect on August 1, and Antoine will replace outgoing principal Professor Brian Copeland and become the first woman to hold the post.

The UWI’s website states Antoine is a Cambridge and Oxford scholar who holds a doctorate from Oxford University in offshore financial law.

Antoine started her journey with The UWI as a temporary law lecturer at the Cave Hill campus in 1989 and then became a lecturer in 1991. Since then, she has served in several highranking positions at UWI including law faculty dean and pro vice-chancellor of the Board for Graduate Stud-

ies and Research. During her time as law faculty dean, Antoine was instrumental in creating the M a k a n d a l Daaga Scholarship, which is an equal-opportunity scholarship aiming to support law students who are outstanding in and out of the classroom.

Outside of her work with The UW I , A n t o i n e h a s served as president of the Organization of American States Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, where she has also

Professor Rose-Marie Belle Antoine

Time workers in and out of the...

From page 6 These functionaries were overlooked for COVID-19 risk allowances, even though in the case of GRA the performances consistently exceeded budget targets and those in healthcare worked beyond the call of duty and put their lives, and that of their loved ones, at risk to reduce the impact of COVID-19 on the nation.

In the case of the Sweepers/Cleaners, successive Governments for over a decade have not resolved the plight of these necessary workers, who maintain healthy environments for the nation’s children. Since November 5, 2013, but retroactive to July 1, 2013, Cabinet took decisions “For the regularisation in the recruitment and improvement of conditions of Sweepers/ Cleaners employed in relation to Schools,” but to date this has not been regularised to alleviate the sufferings of these workers.

The Governments’ action seems to be related to political goading and agitation from elements that operate outside the Public Service, who expect and may be given timely rewards. Nonetheless, GPSU does not recognise the baseless imposition of the seven percent (7%) wages and salaries increases, given the methodology and underlying contempt that the Government has shown and is in the process of taking definitive action to remedy the situation.

This current Government also campaigned on a number of promises to the electorate that it will renegotiate the oil and gas contract with ExxonMobil. However, to date this matter has been ignored to the extent that aspects, such as: (a) the low royalty rate of two percent (2%); and (b) payment of taxes on behalf of the Company, appear sacrosanct.

These significant areas that have and are causing revenue haemorrhages from the country have been topical issues raised by Mr. Glenn Lall, owner of the Kaieteur News, which are genuine and merited. Much to the dismay of the populace, the PPP/C Government has been silent and inactive on corrective measures. As if this was not enough, there is also inaction on required audits of EXXON’s post 2017 costs, which is refundable by the state of Guyana. The failure to audit these costs, will likely result in losses estimated at billions of Guyana dollars.

While the revenue leakages continue unabated, the citizenry of the country are subjected to paltry low-income remuneration, a regime of high taxation and high costs of living, in keeping with the Government’s policy to stifle wages and salary increases for public servants, much to the delight of Government.

The GPSU is again calling on the Office Holders of the Government of Guyana to act in conformity with their individual Oaths of Office in keeping with the Constitution of Guyana to the effect that obligations under the existing legally binding agreement for the Avoidance and Settlement of Disputes, are honoured and appropriate measures instituted to urgently meet with the GPSU to negotiate for increases of wages, salaries and allowances as was formally requested by several GPSU correspondences that culminated on September 16, 2021.

GPSU also renews its call to all Public Servants to work to rule and to effectively convey to Government their displeasures and rejection of the consistent abuses. This is the time for all workers in and out of the Public Service to unite and be prepared to make whatever sacrifice is necessary to put an end to this uncaring unconscionable and

ruthless treatment.

To correct the injustices meted out, the GPSU must consolidate its efforts through a unified front to challenge the sources of these discriminatory acts, so as to lay bare the obstacles to fairness, justice and human rights. The GPSU is confident that with the use of new technology to efficiently and effectively communicate and mobilise, the GPSU in time, through militancy and solidarity, will advance its cause and prove effective in dislodging the Executive’s political assaults on the pillars of good governance and the rights of the Nation, which of course includes Public Servants, their families and friends.

Members of the GPSU and the rest of the Nation’s workforce must take warranted or necessary measures to stay safe from any possible resurgence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Do not let your guards down by putting yourselves at risk.

At this time, it is important and necessary to bring on record the GPSU’s solidarity with the workers and peoples of Ukraine, who are presently suffering because of the brutal and unnecessary acts of war visited upon them by the Russian Federation. The Union calls on Russia to immediately cease the offensive and to make reparations to the independent state of Ukraine for the damages and loss of lives. The GPSU is deliberating on how best the Union and its members can contribute to support this worthy cause.

In closing, I take this opportunity to extend best wishes for a happy and safe Labour Day 2022 to all workers and their families on behalf of the Executive Council and staff of the Guyana Public Service Union. United we stand.

Patrick Yarde GPSU President

been the Rapporteur for Persons of African Descent and Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples.

As chairman of Caricom’s marijuana commission, Antoine has been an advocate for the decriminalisation of marijuana and the creation

of a sustainable cannabis industry.

She also currently serves as president of the Family Planning Association.

Former principals of UWI St Augustine campus include Prof Clement Sankat (2008-2016), former MP Dr

B h o e n d r a d a t t Te w a r i e (2001-2007), Prof Compton Bourne (1996-2001), former president George Maxwell Richards (1985-1996), Prof Lloyd Braithwaite (1969-1984), Sir Dudley Huggins (19631969) and Sir Philip Sherlock (1960-1963).

New landfill site being finalised for...

From page 10 partnered with the Bartica Town Council to procure a garbage truck for 2022. Minister Dharamlall noted that the ministry will provide the funds to the town council for the garbage truck.He alsourged that persons be employed as Community Enhancement Workers (CEWs)

to preserve the township's aesthetics. This will in turn, boost the town's economy, and create jobs in keeping with government's manifesto promise. This year, the ministry has been allocated $1.4 billion to improve sanitary and environmental conditions through infrastructural development countrywide. It in-

cludes monies for the design and construction of a gas management system and stormwater ponds for the Haags Bosch Sanitary Landfill site. So far, a $40million gas management system has been installed at Haags Bosch to reduce the stench emanating from cell one of the sanitary site. (DPI)

Jagdeo describes Linden Hospital CEO...

From page 12 disrespectful and vindictive to our health care workers and the auxiliary staff at the hospital.” He contended that due to Small's management style, the hospital has seen an exodus of nurses and doctors resulting in a shortage of nurses and specialist doctors.

The remaining doctors and nurses, he said, are now overworked.

The situation, MP Figueira said, is further compounded by the lack of critical medical and pharmaceutical resources. “There is a constant complain by health workers for sufficient drugs, PPE gears, better and improved equipment for improved health care delivery in the township but to no avail,” he explained. MP Figueira added: “The CEO has made the working environment toxic to the staff which radiates to the patients.” The Regional Parliamentarian submitted that the hospital, and the town by extension, need a CEO, who is interested in improved

health care delivery, and who will take proactive steps to improve relations among staff and the public with a focus to improve the hospital in every regard.

“We do not need a cowboy CEO who walks around the facility with a visible gun on this waist. This man must go in order for health services

to be enhanced. If this administration is serious about people, their welfare and about improving health care delivery for citizens, then they would act.

We demand that they do so by removing this man from our premier health care facility in this region,” MP Figueira said.

Monday May 02, 2022

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Kaieteur News

'Pay workers ...FITUG says Govt. measures better'not reaching ordinary citizens

Some of the angry sugar workers who approached Carvil Duncan during his address.

A section of those who attended the FITUG event yesterday.

By Zena Henry Workers' across Guyana came out in their numbers in observance of their first Labour Day celebration since the Covid -19 pandemic.

Union representatives and their members were able to engage in the usual Labour Day parade through city streets following the event's two year hiatus.

The Federation of Independent Trade Unions of Guyana (FITUG) held its May Day rally at the NIS Ground, Carifesta Avenue addressing a number of issues affecting their members. Among those issues is the high cost of living.

FITUG'S Treasurer and President of the Guyana Agricultural Workers Union (GAWU), Seepaul Narine told union members that the cost of living continues to be a matter of concern. He said that given the living cost issues, it was thought that

workers would have received the wage increase by now.

Narine explained that food costs would have jumped some 11 percent since 2021 and has been exacerbated due to global events.

He said that the government has employed support efforts such as direct grants and fiscal measures on duties for important commodities.

T h i s m e a s u r e u n d o u b t e d l y, i s w e l l intentioned, Narine continued, “but we believe it is not reaching the ordinary people.” “ We a r e disappointed that Labour Day 2022 has arrived and that national minimum wage remains $44,200. We had anticipated that by this time the new minimum wage of $60,000 per month which enjoys the support of the social partners, would have been implemented.”

Narine continued, “It is our considered view that ($44,200) is difficult for any

worker to survive.” He said that the current wage when adjusted for inflation amounts to some $39,000 monthly. The proposed $60,000 would therefore require further consideration for higher adjustment even as the sum remains unimplemented.

Narine explained that unions are taking note of an increasing reliance on foreign labour within some sectors of the economy. He said that while neither FITUG nor its affiliates have any issue with foreigners getting work, “we must be concerned when we hear foreigners occupying jobs that could be staffed by locals.” In some instances, he said, there are reports of foreigners enjoying conditions and benefits superior to Guyanese doing the same job.

Foreign labour is also being promoted against the background of labour shortage in Guyana. Narine

said that “improving conditions and wages for Guyanese workers may well be the answer to such a problem”. He noted however that the situation should be a wakeup call for Guyanese to change their work ethics to have a competitive edge in the work markets. As it relates to work permits, Narine also supported a comprehensive examination prior to the issuances of work permits.

On the sugar industry, Narine said that the closing of estates has set the industry back several years.

Only now, he said, rehabilitation and replacement of critical components, infrastructure and machinery are being addresses.

He said that over several weeks it has been noticed also that some industry assets have been identified for none sugar ventures. Conscious that government is seeking to generate employment for the

fired sugar workers, Narine said that the workers and the union, “must be involved in the process.

This is critical in ensuring decent jobs are created.” The union leader said that while government is also making investments, it should invest equally in labour development.

FITUG President, Carvil Duncan also touched on the minimum wage. He too expressed disappointment over the nonpayment which was noted two years ago. He said that some employers claimed to be willing to increase the pay but say they need the state to make the pronouncement.

Duncan said those employers were told to make the increase without the government if they believed that their staff was being paid poorly.

Duncan sought to discuss other issues like oil and gas, but had his speech overtaken by angry sugar workers who

complained about little pay and allegations of arbitrary deductions from salaries.

Several persons walked up to the podium; some even got on stage to register their dissatisfaction.

For the most part the angry workers, some of whom came all the way from Berbice, argued and shouted during the address. When Duncan touched on oil and gas he was denied as workers screamed, “we want money and you ah talk bout oil and gas. Whe dah deh? We want money.”

At the end of the programme, Narine told the media that the sugar workers were upset about the reduction of work time particularly at the Uitvlugt estate resulting from a factory breakage.

He said that the men were now getting five days' work with weekend excluded.

Apart from that, there are no major issues bothering the sugar workers, Narine said.

PAGE 20

Kaieteur News

Monday May 02, 2022

Volodímir Zelenski

Monday May 02, 2022

PAGE 21

Kaieteur News

Minister of Natural Resources contributes to YWCC The Ministry of Natural Resources took the lead in making a significant contribution to The Young Warriors Cricket Club restoration funds project.

The once vibrant Young Warriors Cricket Club of Cumberland, East Canje, Berbice recently started an aggressive drive to restore the club and its venue to its former glory. Letters of requests and phone calls were made to several businesses, private individuals and Government Ministries. Imran Saccoor, President of YWCC reached out to Honorable Minister Vickram Bharrat, Ministry of Natural Resources, who readily agreed and on a recent visit to Berbice, presented a cheque of $250,000 to members of the club.

Minister Bharrat, himself a Berbician, said that he is elated to be part of the restoration of the ground knowing

Honorable Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, right, handing over the cheque to Aubrey David, Vice President of YWCC in the presence of REO Region 6, Narindra Persaud and Suresh Dhanai among others.

that the club has produced so many outstanding cricketers, including Shimron Hetmyer, over the years. He is happy to know that the Executive is making an effort to fix the issues and pledged his continued support while calling on former players to also contribute.

Saccoor in reply, thanked the Honorable Minister while he

laid out the plans and projects to be undertaken. The first phase will be the fence which is estimated to cost about $750,000, followed by the outfield and then the pavilions, he added. He promised that all funds will be accounted for and the club is planning fundraisers to help cover the cost of the restoration. Six years ago the venue was in pic-

Monday May 02, 2022 ARIES (Mar. 21–Apr. 19) Take your creativity to a new level, Aries. There are many ways to express yourself creatively, so pick one and follow through. You may have a desire to be on stage.

LIBRA (Sept. 23–Oct. 22) When you talk, you want other people to listen, Libra.

More than likely, your thoughts will drift toward humanitarian ideas and philosophies.

TAURUS(Apr.20–May20) Your feelings may deceive you, Taurus, so be careful of getting too wrapped up in your own drama. Perhaps you feel you're getting pushed and pulled in uncomfortable directions.

SCORPIO (Oct. 23–Nov. 21) Issues regarding control of a situation are probably going to be your focus, Scorpio. More than likely, you adhere to a solidly planned routine. .

SAGIT(Nov.22–Dec.21) You're apt to speak and act with a great deal of power, Sagittarius, but be careful that you don't get swept away by emotion. There's a surrealistic quality to the day.

GEMINI (May 21–June 20) In some ways, you may feel like a lost soul who isn't quite in touch with your dreams, Gemini. Although you feel energetic and boisterous.

CANCER (June 21–July 22) The best way to create harmony among others is to first establish harmony in yourself, Cancer. Don't expect others to take care of you and attend to all your desires.

CAPRI (Dec. 22–Jan. 19) Your concept of reality could be based more on your emotions than facts, Capricorn. This is one of those days when this could get you into trouble.

LEO (July 23–Aug. 22) You might feel as if your powerful emotions are getting in the way of your dreams, Leo.

AQUARIUS(Jan.20–Feb.18) This is your day to shine, Aquarius. Just make sure you don't do so at someone else's expense. You're feeling more self-confident than usual.

VIRGO (Aug. 23–Se pt. 22) Perhaps you're stuck in a mindset you can't seem to escape, Virgo. Be careful about taking action based on ideas rooted more in past fantasy than present reality.

PISCES (Feb. 19–Mar. 20) You may feel like you're being left out of the equation, Pisces. Perhaps you feel like the oddball, the fifth wheel who simply doesn't have a place. Don't worry.

ture perfect condition. Unfortunately, since then, it has deteriorated rapidly over the years. Saccoor continues to appeal to the GOG, Corporate Guyana and private individuals for assistance. He said that the first step is to replace the fence, fix the outfield, fix the pavilions and then move aggressively to recruit new players.

The YWCC produced many outstanding players during its twenty years of existence with the latest being West Indies batter, Shimron Hetmyer. Other players who represented Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies at different levels are Gajanand Singh who now plays for the USA, Richard Ramdeen, former National Captain Damodar Daesrat, SeonHetmyer,PaulWintz, KwesiMaltay,BalramSamaroo,Alex Algoo,KevinRamdeen,Loaknauth Ramsuchit, Kassim Khan, Linden Austin, Sanjay Khan, Shazad Khan, Ishwar Singh, Aaron Beharry, Anil Beharry, Suresh Dhanai, Farouk Hussain and Daryl Narine among many others. The YWCC won the first and only Shapoorji Palonji National T20 competition defeating Blairmont CC, Neal and Massy National Forty Overs Competition, defeating the powerful Demerara Cricket Club in the final at the Guyana National Stadium among other championship titles. The club won the GCB club of the year title for two consecutive years.

The current executive is seeking help in cash and kind to help restore the venue.

Contact can be made with Imran Saccoor, Aubrey David on 646 0294, Suresh Dhanai on 685 3101 or any executive member of the club.

Action intensifies...

From page 22 The winner of the tournament will collect the package of $700,000, and the championship trophy, while the runnerup will receive $400,000 and the corresponding accolade.

The third and fourth place finishers will walk away with $200,000 and $100,000 respectively. The other sponsors of the event are MVP Sport, Nigel Hinds Financial Services, Andrews Supermarket, Bold Expressions Barbershop, Fireside Grill ‘N’ Chill, Star Party Rentals, and Lucozade.

Linden All Stars triumph

The winning Linden All stars.

Linden All stars Circle Tennis Team beat rivals Georgetown Saint Pius Circle Tennis Club to lift the AL Sport and Tour Promotions Mixed team winners’ trophy at the Bounce Land Resort in Amelia’s Ward, recently.

GT Saint Pius Circle tennis team batted first and made 120 off their 30 deliveries,

while Linden All Stars Circle tennis team replied with 134.

Essequibo All stars Circle Tennis team got third place.

Marlon Bill and female Shinies Sullivan won the male and female MVP titles respectively.

Each player from all the participating teams received a medal.

Clubs receiveRichardson donation... and Sir IVA

From page 22 lover of the game. The Charity group receives donation of gears from across England and the gears are then shipped to countries in the Caribbean like Barbados, Antigua and St. Kitts. This is the first time that Guyana has benefitted.

Foster expressed the BCB’s gratitude to Ms. Lowe and her band of sports ambassadors which includes Chris Lewis, Roland Butcher, Sir Andy Roberts, Sir Richie

Richards.

Special thanks were also made to Minister of Sports Charles Ramson Jnr and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Sports for their assistance in obtaining duty free concessions from the Guyana Revenue Authority. The BCB also expressed thanks to the Management of ECU Worldwide for shipping the gears from England to Guyana free of cost and also to Carl Griffith of Laparkan.

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Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

32 Georgetown Schools Join Golf Programme The Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit on Wednesday and Thursday teamed up with the Nexgen Golf Academy to add 32 additional schools from the Georgetown and Region 4 districts to the “Train the Trainer” programme that

brings the total number of secondary schools participating in PE golf to 102.

Commenced in January 2021 with a pilot programme for just six schools, it rapidly expanded and now covers all areas except regions 1, 8 and 9, which are

planned to receive attention this year.

According to Ms. Barker-King head of the Allied Arts Unit, “The Ministry of Education is dedicating its full support to this golf programme especially since the reaction by all

our learners and teachers has been extremely positive.

I am happy to see the Georgetown Schools here and the way the teachers have quickly caught onto the training.

I especially want to thank Mr. Hussain and his

Nexgen Golf Academy team for their dedication in making this programme a success.”

The teachers braved torrential rains on day 2 of the training but that did not determine them from persevering in completing the workshop.

“This is one of the few times I’ve seen such intense involvement by teachers, in spite of the conditions, they refused to quit. It says a lot about the programme, the ease of learning and Mr. Hussain’s method of teaching that makes it fun,” said Kurt Braithwaite.

“This idea started in 2019 when I met Ms. Melissa Dow-Richardson at the Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport and she informed me that we could teach golf as a PE elective at CSEC”, said Hussain.

“When the pandemic hit, I seized the opportunity and together with a few overseas supporters and the Shafura Hussain Foundation, we invested over $20M in equipment to donate to the schools.”

In less than two years, golf has reached new heights in Guyana, solely due to the efforts of the Guyana Golf

Federation, Nexgen Golf Academy and Aleem Hussain and the partnership with the Ministry of Education Allied Arts Unit.

More than 10,000 persons have been able to partake in the sport due to their efforts and that number is expected to grow to 35,000 by end of 2023.

This will put Guyana on track to dominate in regional and international competitions and eventually produce an Olympic team according to Hussain.

“The emphasis being placed on sports by President Ali and Minister Ramson allows us to expand and reach our full potential in a much shorter time frame, so expect great things from golf.”

The Nexgen Golf Academy, centrally located on the Scout Association Ground on Woolford Avenue is the only place in Guyana where anyone can go to learn the sport without having to join a club or purcha s e e q u i p m e n t .

There, Hussain has developed a teaching method that guarantees anyone will be able to hit a golf ball properly in 5 minutes or less.

GCO S to host 5k Independence Run & Walk on May 15

The Guyana Committee of Services will be hosting its annual 5K Independence health fitness run and walk on Sunday 15th May 2022 in recognition of Guyana’s 56th Independence Anniversary The Event is scheduled to commence at 16:00 hrs in the National Park then go into Thomas Road, onto Vlissengen Road into Clive Lloyd Drive into Camp Street back to Thomas Road, Thomas lands to finish at the National Park.

On board are: E-Networks, Office of the Presi-

d e n t , B u s t a C o m p a n y, NBS, Department o f Sports, Payless Variety Store, Star Party Rentals, Guybisco, Mohamed Enterprise, Assuria Insurance and Game express.

The categorizes of this Event are; Open Athlete, Masters, Ju n i o r s , a n d Children who will do one lap in the National Park while President Dr. Irfan Ali is expected to start the race.

For more information, contact Leslie Black (AA) on 650-5868 and Lorraine Adams on 668-7897. (Sean Devers)

Monday May 02, 2022

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Kaieteur News

Inaugural Arrowhead League rated a success Keliza Smith comfortably wins the women’s 200 metres final at the Arrowhead League.

Despite a late start to the first ever track and field league in Guyana, it was an emphatic start to the league by some of the biggest names in Guyana’s athletics at the National Track and Field Centre, Leonora.

Right out of the blocks, Guyana Defence Force’s top sprinter Akeem Stewart set the league on fire with a blistering 10.40s to set the 100 metres men meet record in a final that was hotly contested.

Noelex Holder of Police finished in second with a time of 10.48s while Shamar Horatio finished third in 10.58s.

Switching to the women’s 200 metres, Keliza Smith of Running Brave Athletics Club was nothing short of spectacular, clocking 23.99s to win the women’s final and set the meet record ahead of Ruth Sanmoogan (GDF) who clocked 24.57s for second. Natrena Hooper of GDF finished third in 25.10s. Nevertheless, the race of the day was arguably the men’s 400 metres with a run to the finish between Running Brave’s Simeon Adams and Hopetown Flames Revon Williams with clear animosity between the two. However, it was Adams who came out on top, out-dipping, Williams at the finish line to clock 48.28s to set the meet record. Williams finished in 48.41s while Michael James of GDF finished in third with 49.30s.

Meanwhile, Javelin national record holder Leslain Baird (GDF) made a competitive return to sports after 13 months due to a knee injury with a throw of 70.06 metres to set the meet record.

Kleon Spelling (Police) finished in second with a throw of 66.09 metres while Joshua Tappin finished third with a throw of 58.64 metres.

2022 Carifta gold, silver and bronze medalist Attoya Harvey won her first race on

home soil since returning from her success at the Carifta Games to set the meet standard in the women’s 800 metres with a time of 2:16.12s. 2022 Carifta 400m silver medalist Narissa McPherson clocked 2:16.36s to finish second in a tight finish between her and her club-mate in Harvey. Finishing in third was Shaquka

Tyrell with a time of 2:18.07s.

The Men’s high jump was won by Mark Jhalu with a leap of 2.10 metres to set a new meet record, finishing ahead of Isaiah Lewis with a jump of 1.97 metres. Sanmoogan was able to win the women’s long jump with a leap of 6.18 metres to set the meet standard while Ameka Eastman won the

women’s discus with a throw of 35.03 metres to put her name on the meet record as well.

The men’s 1500 metres was won

by Guyana’s SouthAmerican 10k champion, Marlon Nicholson with a time of 4:11.89s. Second was Anfernee Headecker with 4:12.88s while Sir Kennard Hartog finished in third with a time of 4:18.80s.

Albion saddened with the tragic death of Permaul’s mother The President, Executives and Members of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club are deeply saddened with the tragic death of Waynmattie Permaul also known as Dataley, the mother of Albion, Berbice, Guyana and West Indies cricketer Veerasammy Permaul. “The news of Waynmattie Permaul’s death is very depressing and we at the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club would like to express our sincere condolences to her family, especially her children Veersammy, Veerapen, Shelly

and Debby.”

Apart from Veerasammy, Veerapen had also represented Albion at all levels and Berbice and Guyana at the youth level.

Although death is inevitable, it is never easy to lose a loved one; however, we must console ourselves that God knows the best and read just our minds to embrace such situation.

We pray that God will grant comfort to the bereaved family during this very difficult period and may the soul of the deceased RIP.

PAGE 24

Monday May 02, 2022

Kaieteur News

Clubs receive donation of cricket gears Action intensifies in Cricket Kindness Project Magnum Independence Cup from BCB/ - Schools to benefit shortly

Action at the National Park Tarmac between Road Warriors (red) and Albouystown in the Magnum Independence Cup.

Sparta Boss, Back Circle, Showstoppers, and Albouystown were amongst the victors when the Magnum Independence Cup continued on Saturday at the National Park Tarmac, Thomas Lands.

Sparta Boss dismissed East Front Road 6-0. Ryan Hackett recorded a brace in the 18th and 19th minutes while Jermin Junior tallied a double in the seventh and 22nd minutes. Adding goals in the fourth and 21st minute respectively were Eusi Phillips and Nicholas MacArthur.

Similarly, Showstoppers

crushed Festival City 5-0.

Delon Lanferman fashioned a double in the 11th and 12th minutes, while Marvin Josiah, Dexroy Adams, and Kevin Edghil scored in the third, 10th, and 20th minute respectively.

Meanwhile, Back Circle downed Mocha 4-2. The foursome of David George, Adrian Aaron, Selwyn Williams, and Jermaine Beckles scored in the fourth, seventh, ninth, and 24th minute respectively.

For Mocha, Amos Ramsay registered two conversions in the 17th and 23rd minutes.

Also, Albouystown

Representatives of the club poses with Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher after receiving the gear.

edged Road Warriors 2-1.

Trevon Campo and Kevin Tyrese scored in the sixth and 16th minute respectively. For the loser, Randy Roberts netted in the 19th minute.

In other results, Sophia edged Melanie 2-1, Belfield Warriors upset Leopold Street 2-0, and Tiger Bay squeaked past Ansa McAl All-Stars 10. Also, North East La Penitence and Stabroek Ballers battled to a 3-3 draw.

The event continues tomorrow [Tuesday] with the final round of group stage matches at the same venue.

(Continued on page 21)

The Berbice Cricket Board as part of its ongoing cricket developmental programme handed over a large amount of cricket gears to several clubs in the Ancient County under its Cricket Kindness Project. The presentation was done during the BCB gala Brian Ramphal Awards Ceremony at the St. Francis Community Developers Training Centre in Rose Hall Town. The presentation was done by cricket legends Sir Andy Roberts and Roland Butcher, who both serve as ambassadors for the England based cricket charity organization Cricket Kindness.

President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster

disclosed that in late 2020, he was approached by Butcher, who wanted his blessings to submit the BCB’s name to Ms. Tamara J. Lowe of Cricket Kindness for a donation of cricket gears. Foster readily agreed and later submitted a comprehensive project document to Ms. Lowe.

Cricket Kindness agreed to assist the county but the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic slowed down plans but a shipment eventually left England in late 2021. The shipment included a large collection of bats, batting pad, batting gloves, wicket keeping pads, wicket keeping gloves, cricket boots and uniforms among others. The BCB, sev-

eral weeks ago, assisted seventy-two youth cricketers with personal gears via a transparent raffle system. The players were selected by their respective clubs and sub associations.

Among the clubs benefitting from the donations were Achievers, Cotton Tree, Mt. Sinai, Tucber Park, Rose Hall Canje, Guymine, Scottsburg, Radha Krishna and Skeldon.

Among the items donated were bats, batting pads, helmets, batting gloves, thigh pads and fore arm guards.

Cricket Kindness is based in England and is the brainchild of Australia born Tamara Lowe, a passionate (Continued on page 21)

25

Inaugural Arrowhead League rated a success Akeem Stewart sprints through the line to win the men's 100m.

GCA's Trophy Stall, Ramchand Auto Spares & Survival Group of Companies U-19 Cricket

32 Georgetown Wilson's ton, Nanan' 5-for, Schools Join power DCC to emphatic Golf Programme win over MSC at QC

Action intensifies in Magnum Independence Cup

Action in the Sparta Boss and East Front Road clash in the Magnum Independence Cup. Printed and published by National Media & Publishing Company Ltd., 24 Saffon Street, Charlestown, Georgetown. Tel: 225-8458, 225-8465, 225-8491 or Fax: 225-8473/226-8210.